Apparatus for the continuous conversion of starch into glucose and other derivatives.



S. M. LILLIE.

APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS CONVERSION OF STARCH INTO GLUCOSE AND OTHER DERIVATIVES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.15, 1912.

1,038,397; Patented Sept. 10,1912

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: I INVENTORI Ma. 9% Qkwg 'w S. M. LILLIE.

APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS CONVERSION OF STARGH INTO GLUCOSE AND OTHER DERIVATIVES. APPLICATION FILED APR. 15, 1912.

3 7, Patented Sept. 10,1912;

2 BHEETS-BHEET 2.

WITNESS v INVENTORI %.&-%\Q-%QL- perforated diaphragms a there are .two movable or floating perforated diaphragms K and K.

the lower diaphragm has perforations z ar.

ranged in a circle concentric with the cylinder and fastened to the lower diaphragm,

and supported below it is a metal rin K directly underneath the circle of per orations so that any liquor passing downward through the perforations impinges upon the metal ring below and is deflected horizon tally on eachside. The sleeve U bears on opposite sides two pins 70 which engage into fork Z at the end of the lever L. The other end of the-lever L is fixed upon an arbor Z,

located in a projection on the side of the cylinder A, which arbor extends through theside wall of the projection and has securely fixed on its outer extremity the are Q and also bears loosely the lever L which lever has pivoted to it the eccentric lever m, which when thrown into one position bears against the edge of the are Q and binds the lever L to it, and which, thrown into another position, frees the lever L from the are. Pivoted to the lever L is one end of the con- .necting rod 1", the other end of. which is pivoted to the lever r of the valve R, in such fashion that raising the lever L closes the valve R and lowering lever L opens the same. Consequently, when the lever L is bound to the arc Q by the eccentric lever m the raising of the lever L by the float diaphragms K opens the valve R in proportion as they rise and, as the lever L is lowered by the float diaphragms, it closes the valve R in proportion as the diaphragms fall. The length of'the slot Z in the end of the lever L" is so proportioned that the valve R is fully closed just as the pins 70 are carried out of the slot by the falling of the float diaphragms K. Should the float diaphragms rise, the pins 7 enter the slot and'a further rise of the same opens the valve to a degree depending upon the extent of the rise. The lever L is heavy enough so that when the lever L is disengaged from the arc Q the lever L will move into its lowermost position and the are Q into its HPPCFI'E'IOSl.

position. This movement might be effected 'by a spring, suitably arranged on the arbor Z for example. A vertical rib 7 on the inner surface of the cyllnder A engages in the notch 7 1n the edges ot the diaphragnis K K, and prevents any turning of the latter and of the sleeve U and its pins K on the pipe D.

(l is a steam pipe which opens into the vessel A below the upper diaphra m, but above the level to which the converting column of liquor will in practice ever rise as hereinafter described. The pipe C is fitted with a hand-valve c and also with a pressure reducing valve o. The cylinder A. is provided with safety valve S, pressure gage G, air vent pipe V, with valve 0, leading into the pipe 71 and also with provisions for indicating the height of liquor in the vessel, such as the gage glass 9 on the side of the same. A small test pipe E with valve 0 leads into the atmosphere from the discharge pipe D at a. point between the valve R and the converting vessel. A. small pipe J, fitted with valve j, leads into the cylinder A below the lower diaphra m in the same, and immediately under the inverted cup '11 ot the discharge pipe I). The vent pipe o affords communication between the spaces above and below the uppermost diaphragm n.

The method of using the apparatus described above is as follows: Air is first displaced by steam from the various parts of the empty apparatus. The floating diaphragms K, K are resting at the bottom of the empty vessel A and the lever L is disengaged by the eccentric lC-BVGIJIL from the are Q. and is moved up to just close the valve R. The lever L is resting in its lowest position and the arc Q in its uppermost position. The parts are so arrangedthat when in their several positions just named the le ver L is in position to be engaged by the eccentric lever m with the are (,3 near the lower end of the arc. The valve 0 in the high pressure steam pipe C to the vessel is then opened, the pressure reducing valve r is set to maintain the converting pressure. or a little above, in the vessel A, the relief valve S set to relieve the pressure in A should it rise above normal, i'. or above a pressure corresponding to a temperature a little above the converting temperature. The acidified starch liquor may now be started at the uniform rate of speed desired through the preliminary heating system by which the starch liquor is quickly heated. to approximately the converting temperature say 280 Fahr. and with but little conversion and led thus heated into the converting vessel A through its feed pipe B. Entering the vessel A, it showers through the atmosphere of steam therein, and it it has entered below the desired temperature it is broughtto it by contact with this steam. -lf materially above the converting temporalureand pressure it is lowered by the escape of steam through the safety valve S. \Vhen starting operations the heated starch liquor entm'mg the vessel A gradually fills the vessel, the

increases thro'wh it entl noon the surface of the to r-i .7 l

(liquor between the two plates, flows tl'irough the circle of holes 2, in the lower plate ill", and by the ring ll below the holes is delivered horizontally and smoothly into the body of the liquor with very little agitation.

of the latter vertically, a condition favorable to a uniform com'ersion. The valve 6 in the pipe E is kept slightly opened and. there is a constant flow of the hot starch. liquor from the pipe l) through the pipe l san'iples taken from which at any time indicate very closely the condition of the liquor which would discharge into the closed tank T were the valve ll opened.

The length oi: the sleeve U, the location of the pins K on it, the location and length of the forked lever L, are so arranged that with the lever L in its lowest position, the pins K will be engaged with the lever by the rising level ofthe starch liquor-when operating with the temperature and acidity at given degrees-beitore the lowest degree of conversion which may be desired is reached, and also so that the highest conversions which might be desired would be arrived at considerably before the lever L had passed through its entire range of movement. The valve It isso constructed that to change it from wide open to closed, or vice vcrsa, requires a movement of the lover L through but a small arc and coi'isequently of the lever ll also if the lever ti be bound n to the-aroQ by the means of the eccentric lever m. wide open" is meant soili- 40 ciently open to allow the liquor to discharge at the maximum rate. lVhen starting the converting apparatus of Fig. l, as above described, the eccentric lever m is turned to .release the lever L from the arc Qwhich allows the lever L to fall to its lowest position, and move the are (.2 into its highestand the lever L is moved to bring the'valve B into its closed,positionwhi'ch brings the lever Lainto position to be bound by the eecentric m to near the lowest point of the arc Q, a. into the position shown in Fig. 1. Before the-liquor lowing away from the discharge pipe D through the test pipe E shows the desired degree of conversion in 5 samples taken from the same, the pins 7;

of the sleeve U will, as hereinbeitore explained, be engaged in the slot of the lever ll, and the latter and the arc Q be revolving; with the rising of the liquor in vessel A. At once, or perhaps a little before the samples t liquor flowing; from the sampling pipe E "show the desiivddegree of conversion the lever l is bound to the arc Q by the eccentric m, and the hand valve (Z inthe discharge pipe I) is openedfgg .TllEi r sing of level of the liquor in A now causes the lever lb to move downward and, through. the connecting rod r and valve lever 1", move the valve into increasingly open positions. A. little further rise in the liquor level will open the valve sulliciently to make the outtlow of liquor from it to be equal to the intlow ot the starch liquor into A, and as this intlow is at a constant rate and thepressure in the vessel A. is practically constant, all the starch liquor passing through the vessel A. will be in it tor the same length of time and will be ctmverted to the same degree, and this constai'icy will be maintained automatically by the operation of the mechanism described so long as the temperatures, acidity and rate of flow of the starch liquor through the apparatus continue constant. To changethe degree elf conversion, as indicated by samples taken from E, to a greater degree loosen the lever L from the arc Q by moving the eccentric m, pull down the lever L to closethe valve It. The level of the liquor in A will now rise progressively and the samples taken from E show increasing degrees of conversion until the desired greater degree of conversionis reached. Then the lever L is at oncobound to the arc Q by the eccentric m and this greater degree of conversion is maintained. W ere a lower degree of conversion wanted instead of a higher, then after releasing thelever L tromthc arc Q, as indicated, the valve R would be opened wider to permit a greater flow of liquor from the vessel A, the level of the liquor in A. would fall progressively, and also the degree of conversion shown by samples taken from the pipe E. tl hcnthis approaches the lower degree of conversion wanted the lever ,L is bound to the arc Q by the eccentric m. The level of the liquor in A at that time will be automatically maintained, and the liquor will come away converted to a degree somewhat less than that shown by sample flowing from E at the time of binding-the lever L regulating; u'iechanisn'i to obtain a given degree of conversion, it may prove to be not quite right the first time, and one or more adjust-i'nents may be necessary to get the right conversion. This will especially be the case when lowering the level of the liquor to obtain a lower conversion. Should at any time the desired degree of conversion sail for a level of the liquor in A not high enough to bring the lugs K of sleeve U into contact with the lever l1, then the valve ll; nuist be lett open and the regulation of the l'low of liquor through the pipe 1) be done by the hand valved. Other arrangements for automatically maintaining the level of the lioiior in A at a desired elevation maybe employed without departing from the scope it my invention. Discharge of the liquor through the pipe D into the closed tank T is thus made to be at the same constant rate heating purposes.

at which the starch liquor is entering the vessel A, (i. 6., the rate it is entering upon preliminary heating) and in consequence all the liquor flowing from the pipe D has been subjected to the action of the acid and of the constant temperature the same length of time, and has approximately the same degree of conversion. In the tank T a lower pressure is maintained than in the vessel A. and due to this lower pressure, vapor is generated in thetank T from the'liquor, and this vapor escaping through the pipe h is used in the process of my said patcntsfor The converted starch liquor flows from. the tank T down through the pipe t, the valve 15 being open, into the closed sealing tank 'l, and passes away through its overflow I The valve 5 1n the latter permits of throttling this overflow if it is desired to carry pressure above atmospheric in the tanlr '1. Again the liquor in the sealing tank T prevents air passing up into the tank T should a partial vacuum he maintained therein.

Neutralization of the acid in the converted liquor may be. done simultaneously with the passage of the liquor from the converter, iuwhich case the resultant flash vapors are approximately neutral and noncorrosive, or it may be done after the dis-- engagement of the flash vapors in the tank T, in which case resultant vapors would carry with them considerable acid, which would be absorbed in the starch liquors were these vapors employed in heatingthe starch liquors in the preliminary heating system,

as is done for example in the apparatus shown in my U. S. Patent #959,237, May 24th, 1910. The acid thus absorbed would lessen the amount of fresh acid needed in the starch liquors to give them the degree of acidity desired for the converting process.

I do not limit my invention to the particular construction or details of apparatus set forth in this specification and accompanying drawings.

1 claim as of my invention 1. In a starch converting vessel of the character described into which the starch liquor is delivered above the surface of the starch liquor therein, devices for distributing the entering liquor over the surface of delivered above the surface ofthe starch liquor therein, means for distributing the falling liquor over the surface of the liquor supported on llcats resting on the surface of the starch liquor and rising and falling with it.

3. in a sl arch converter of the character described into which the starch liquor is delivered above the surface of the liquor therein, a perforated distributing plate in combination with a lloat construction adapt.- cd to llcat in the liquor and support the per foratcd plate near the surface. of the liquor.

.1-. In a starch converter of the character described into which the starch liquor is delivered above the surface of the liquor therein, two perforated plates supported one above the surface of the liquor and the other a short distance below the said surface by a that construction adapted to float in the liquor and rise and fall with the surface of the same.

5. In a starch converter of the character described into which the starch liquor is delivered above the surface of the liquor therein, a device for distributing the liquor over the surface of the liquor in the converter consisting of two horizontally disposed perforated plates, av float construction between the two plates, and means for fastoning the two plates and the flout construction together.

6. In a starch. con erter of the character described. a vertical discharge pipe for the liquor within the converter, a loose sleeve on the discharge pipe, a float construction attached to the sleeve and liquor distributing means supported by the float construction, the combination being adapted to rise and fall. with the surface of the liquor in the converter.

7. In a starch converter of the character described, a float construction resting mow the surface of the liquor in the converter and supporting liquor distriliuting device, a. liquor discharge pipe for the converter, a valve in the said. discharge pipe, interconnecting mechanism between the said valve and flout construction operating to open the valv as the liquor surface and the float. construction rise, and as they fall to close the valve, and means for delivering the starch liquorinto the converter.

Monars LILLIE.

\Vitnesses M. T. Mao'moun, Conn: ll. Snrru. 

